Editor’s Note: This clip is from “How to Seek the Holy Spirit,” a message John Piper preached to thousands at the Bethlehem 2018 Conference for Pastors + Church Leaders.

Audio Transcript

Do you struggle with doubts? Of course, you do. You’re a liar if you don’t. Everybody walks through seasons of greater or lesser shaking. And you wonder then, “What will it be like at the end? What if they assailed me at the end?”

“The work of the Holy Spirit in the hour of trial is to preserve you from faith-destroying doubt and to give you the sweet gift of assurance.”

You did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of sonship. When you cry, “Abba, Father” — and that may be the only truth you can get out of your mouth: “Abba, Father!” — when you cry, “Abba, Father,” it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with your spirit that you are the child of God. And if children, then heirs — heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided you suffer with him in order that you may be glorified with him (see Romans 8:15–17).

The work of the Holy Spirit in the hour of trial is to preserve you from faith-destroying doubt and to give you the sweet gift of assurance.